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| FAQ | |
| What is SEALECTION 500? | |
| What are the advantages of SEALECTION 500? | |
| Does SEALECTION 500 break down, sag or shrink? | |
| What is the R-value of SEALECTION 500? | |
| What is the R-Value of a SEALECTION 500 insulated wall or ceiling? | |
| Can SEALECTION 500 be applied in an existing wall? | |
| What are the advantages of SEALECTION 500? | |
| Are there health concerns with SEALECTION 500? | |
| Does SEALECTION 500 contain Urea Formaldehyde, CFC or HCFC's? | |
| Does SEALECTION 500 Insulation support the growth of molds and mildew? | |
| At what stage is SEALECTION 500 system installed? | |
| Is it possible for a homeowner to install SEALECTION 500 on their own? | |
| Does SEALECTION 500 adhere to metal studs? | |
| Are there any compatibility concerns with other building materials? | |
| Are there any issues around overheating of electric wiring? | |
| How much does SEALECTION 500 system cost? | |
| What is SEALECTION 500? | |
| The SEALECTIONTM 500 spray foam is a complete insulation and air barrier system that insulates and air seals walls, floors and ceiling cavities against air movement, including spaces around electrical outlets, baseboards, and where the walls meet windows and doors etc. This means that outside air (hot or cold) cannot seep through walls causing drafts or cold spots. It also means that hot humid air cannot enter the walls and condense on cold surfaces causing molds, mildew and premature decay. SEALECTIONTM 500 spray foam insulation is applied by Approved Applicators, which provides a truly effective method to construct energy efficient homes and buildings. SEALECTIONTM 500 is a semi-rigid thermo-set polyurethane foam (see Sealection 500 specifications) which is a cellular plastic composed of millions of microscopic cells of which most are open. The application of the product is done at the job site by Approved Applicators, providing a custom installation of the insulation. The application technique and nature of SEALECTIONTM 500 make a perfect fit to all cavities irrespective of size or shape. By virtue of its low permeability to air, its adhesion to other building materials, and its flexibility, SEALECTIONTM 500 becomes much more than just insulation. It provides superior air leakage and sound control for residential construction. SEALECTIONTM 500 is a one step insulation, and air barrier system. SEALECTIONTM 500 eliminates the labor intensive work associated with air-tightness detailing when insulating with conventional insulation products. SEALECTIONTM 500 is an significantly reduces air infiltration, unlike "loose fill" insulation, which does not air seal the building cavities. Air infiltration robs the insulation of its R-value. The superior air sealing characteristics of the SEALECTIONTM 500 system provides virtually the same R-Value in the field as it does in the laboratory. Cold air in winter and hot muggy air in summer cannot pass through our SEALECTIONTM 500 foam as it can through other insulating materials cheating those products of its performing R-value. | |
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| What are the advantages of SEALECTION 500? | |
| As well as
simplifying the construction process for
the builder, SEALECTIONTM 500
spray
foam insulation eliminates the major causes of building envelope
problems, air-borne moisture movement and entrapment. Blower door tests
have shown that steel framed homes insulated with SEALECTIONTM 500
spray
foam insulation and with no polyethylene vapor barrier routinely
measure under the 1.5 ACH50 rating for the most energy efficient home.
Heating and cooling costs are typically reduced by 30 to 50%. Smaller
and less expensive heating and cooling equipment (properly sized) can
be used. SEALECTIONTM 500
is inert and stable over a long term. It will not settle or compact
over time. It offers stable R-value and is chemically and physically
stable under normal conditions between (-60�F and 180�F). | |
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| Does SEALECTION 500 break down, sag or shrink? | |
| No, SEALECTIONTM 500 insulation is stable. It does not shrink or sag. The reaction that created SEALECTIONTM 500 insulation is irreversible and it cannot break down into its constituent parts. | |
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| What is the R-value of SEALECTION 500? | |
| The R-Values of SEALECTIONTM 500 insulation is rated at R-3.8 per inch. In a nominal 4-inch wall, the R-Value is about R-13, in a 6" wall about R-21. | |
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| What is the R-Value of a SEALECTION 500 insulated wall or ceiling? | |
| R-Values
of insulating materials are measured in laboratories and are designated
a nominal R-Value per inch. In the wall or ceiling of a building most
factory-made insulation materials suffer a reduction in performance due
to air leakage and infiltration. The insulating value of many building
components may be as low as 50% of the nominal R-Value of the
insulation they contain. By contrast, the insulation of a wall
containing SEALECTIONTM 500
insulation
will perform closely to that of the laboratory tested R-Value of the
material, and it seals the wall cavity from air infiltration as well.
The SEALECTIONTM 500
insulation system is particularly suited for
steel or wood frame construction. SEALECTIONTM 500
expands
120:1 as it is installed, adhering to surrounding building components.
It completely seals joints, crevices and voids, including
difficult-to-insulate spaces such as steel stud "U" and "C" sections,
double studs, and non-standard stud locations. | |
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| Can SEALECTION 500 be applied in an existing wall? | |
| At Household Resource we do inject SEALECTIONTM 500 or PIP 500 into existing walls where there is no other insulation and conditions allow. However, it must be understood that there is some disturbance to the surface and weaknesses and faults in the surface can be exacerbated. In our experience when the conditions allow for our injection method, the quality of the insulation upgrade could not be achieved with less disruption to the surface. We have had success with our method both with interior and exterior applications. | |
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| What are the advantages of SEALECTION 500? | |
| SEALECTIONTM 500 remains flexible throughout the life of the building. As the building expands and contracts with changes of season and temperature, SEALECTIONTM 500 will move with the changes without destroying the seal. | |
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| Are there health concerns with SEALECTION 500? | |
| No, SEALECTIONTM 500 is a "green" product. It meets off gassing requirements of CGSB 51.23 92 for new residential construction. No toxic or carcinogenic products were detected. | |
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| Does SEALECTION 500 contain Urea Formaldehyde, CFC or HCFC's? | |
| No, SEALECTIONTM 500
does
not contain Urea Formaldehyde, CFC's or HCFC's. This insulation is a
semi-rigid urethane and an open cellular plastic foam, in which water
is incorporated as the sole blowing agent. SEALECTIONTM 500
has obtained the seal of approval by the
Environmental Choice Program of Canada (equivalent to US-EPA). | |
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| Does SEALECTION 500 Insulation support the growth of molds and mildew? | |
| No,
SEALECTIONTM 500
insulation
offers no food value therefore it cannot support bacteria or fungal
growth. The effective air sealing characteristics of SEALECTIONTM 500
prevents
the movement of hot air to the cold parts of the walls. This effective
air-sealing process prevents condensation from taking place within the
wall cavities. The elimination of condensation within the wall
assemblies prevents the growth of molds and/or mildew. | |
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| At what stage is SEALECTION 500 system installed? | |
| The SEALECTIONTM 500
insulation
system is installed after the windows, doors and roof are in, the
electrical and plumbing inspections are completed, and after any other
electrical or mechanical system located behind the drywall is
installed. It is the last installation to take place before drywall is
installed. | |
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| Is it possible for a homeowner to install SEALECTION 500 on their own? | |
| SEALECTIONTM 500
insulation
has to be installed by an Approved Applicator with specialized
proportioning equipment. The installer has been trained to work with
the chemicals involved and has also been trained in the
building
science to provide the best installation possible. | |
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| Does SEALECTION 500 adhere to metal studs? | |
| SEALECTIONTM 500
adheres
well to steel studs and other natural materials such as cement board,
wood, etc. commonly found in residential and light commercial
construction. Since SEALECTIONTM 500
will adhere to almost all surfaces in the
home, areas that do not require SEALECTIONTM 500
insulation such as windows doors etc. must be protected from
over-spray. | |
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| Are there any compatibility concerns with other building materials? | |
| SEALECTIONTM 500 is stable in the presence of most solvents found in binders, bituminous materials, wood preservatives, and sealers. It is resistant to facers containing plasticizers, fuel, mineral oil, weak acid, and weak bases, which are typically found in residential and light commercial construction materials. | |
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| Are there any issues around overheating of electric wiring? | |
| There is no special requirement need to encapsulate electrical wires other than what is required with all types of insulation. As with other types of insulation such as fiberglass and/or cellulose, when the properly rated size and type of electrical wires are used, there is no over heating of those electrical wires. | |
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| How much does SEALECTION 500 system cost? | |
| SEALECTIONTM 500 is considered to be more expensive than most conventional insulation; however SEALECTIONTM 500 cannot be compared to conventional insulation. When using the SEALECTIONTM 500 spray foam insulation system it actually air seals the building and eliminates energy robbing air leakage and the associated problems with moisture, mold and mildew, and condensation problems inside the walls. When calculating the actual cost, you need to consider the possible need to downsize the HVAC systems, eliminate building wraps, and eliminate a significant portion of the material and labor costs associated with an air sealing approach. It is erroneous to compare the cost of loose fill insulation to that of SEALECTIONTM 500 spray foam insulation system. The invested premium to upgrade from standard fiberglass is an insignificant part of the overall cost of a home and your long-term energy costs. When you are planning to install an upgraded insulation package, remember that SEALECTIONTM 500 is more expensive but it provides you with the best performance and comfort value. The additional upfront costs typically pay for themselves in energy savings within three years and will keep on saving you money every year thereafter. Your builder wants you to build the very best house; be patient and persistent if he is unfamiliar with our product, but ask for the product by name, SEALECTIONTM 500. | |
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